Today OPB premiered its new local show "Think Out Loud," a talk/issue show which focuses on the PNW. It will broadcast live weekdays at 9a-10a and repeat evenings 9p-10p.

While I think a local show is a great idea, I really love "Here and Now" - it's well-produced, topical, informative gem that I'll miss hearing live (I know I can stream it on the internet). I would much have preferred to keep that instead of the BBC's "World Have Your Say" at 10. While "World Have Your Say" is sometimes interesting for its non-American perspective, when they are talking about something you don't care about, it's boring.

I listened to only a bit of "Think Out Loud" and I fear it could be the same way; if the issue in question doesn't grab my attention I'm not going to waste a whole hour on it; after the first few minutes I'll tune into something else. At least with "Here and Now" numerous topics are covered and numerous people interviewed.

Andrew

OPB has made some major changes to their format since the beginning of the year. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out down the road.

I'm wondering what brought about the need or reason to make the changes.

Ratings???

Actually, maybe OPB has watched their listeners' financial contributions toward that show, and measured the overall value to the station.

My wife works in the membership department of the two public radio stations here in Phoenix. "Here And Now" has done well for KJZZ (oddly enough, at 91.5). Return on investment for programming on public stations is a major concern. The rights fees one pays to run "Prairie Home Companion" would likely stagger your imagination...pretty darn steep!

There are actually two changes here. One is the change in daytime programming to a local show from a national show. The other is that OPB is abandoning it's music programming from 9 to 11pm. Sure, OPB has become the source for talk and news. But something should be said about the loss of the (last?) bit of music in the schedule.